‘Thai Hastham’ ~ ‘Swamy koorathaazhwan’ Sarrumurai at Thiruvallikkeni 2018

Today 5^th Feb 2018 is ‘Thai Hastham’ ~  the day on which ‘Swamy koorathaazhwan’ was born, thousand and seven  years ago. 3^rd Feb 2010 marked the 1000^th  year of his advent in this world.  

யதிகளுக்கெல்லாம் இறைவனான எம்பெருமானார் வெள்ளை பட்டு உடுத்திய துயர சம்பவத்தையும், நமது தர்சன ஸ்தாபகர்களுக்கு நேர்ந்த அதீத துயரத்தையும் அறிவீர்களா ? ~ இவை நடந்தது ஒரு ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் முன்பு .. .. .. ஆனால் காட்டிக்கொடுத்த நாலூரானுக்கும் நல்லதே நடக்க வேண்டும் என இயம்பிய வைணவ பெரியாரை இவ்வுலகம் அறியுமா ??

Sri Ramanujar ~  hailed as Udayavar, Emperumanar, Bashyakarar, Ilayazhwaar, Yathirajar, Thiruppavai Jeeyar, Num Kovil annan,  amongst other names - has the pride of place in the list of our Acharyars;    Of those who remained closest to Sri Ramanuja – Sri  Mudaliandan, Sri Koorathazhwan, Sri Embar,  Sri Ananthazhwan, Arulalaperumal Emperumanar, Kidambi Achaan, Thirukurugai Piraan Pillan, Thiruvarangathu Amuthanar were very prominent.   This song by Thiruvarangathu Amuthanar in ‘Ramanuja Nootranthathi’ typifies the  glory of Sri Kurathazhvaan.

மொழியைக் கடக்கும் பெரும்புகழான், வஞ்ச முக்குறும்பாம்

குழியைக் கடக்கும்  நம் கூரத்தாழ்வான்  சரண் கூடியபின்

பழியைக் கடத்தும் இராமானுசன்  புகழ் பாடியல்லா

வழியைக் கடத்தல் எனக்கினி யாதும் வருத்தமன்றே.

Amuthanar says that the egos which heavily weigh down every person -  that of false pride of born in high caste  (jananam), being blessed with good education (jnanam) and that of being a strict follower of vairagyam and anushtaanam were  cast aside and won by Azhwan. He was devoid of pride though he possessed all these traits.  Taking refuge at his feet, Amuthanar says, he is able to compose the greatness of Emperumanaar who will enable all his disciples to get over bondages and hence there would not be any grievance or regret.

Num Swami Kuresar  was born on this  Thai Hastham in Kooram village near Kanchipuram. Those days Kuram was a kingdom and he was the King of Kooram.  Every day he organized feeding bhakthas in a grandiose manner. In search of understanding the tenets of Srivaishnavism, he renunciated all his material wealth to the poor and set on foot to Srirangam. There he identified his noble Guru, the enlightened Sri Ramanujacharya, obeyed him and became the choicest and most celebrated disciple of him. A strange bond of kinship developed between master and student over the years. Kuresar was Ramanuja’s aide in scriptural study, disputations and exegesis acting as a faithful shadow.

At that time,  Mahan Ramanuja was generating a great religious movement with  his philosophy ‘Visishtadvaita’ attracting universal attention. He was institutionalizing his philosophy and set about writing down the principles later known as ‘Ramanuja darsanam’. Ramanujacharya  embarked to record his commentary on Brahma sutra of Vyasa and Kuresan began writing down everything as dictated. In such a manner he completed stupendously the great standard works of Sri sampradayam handed them over to posterity – Sri Bhashya, Vedanta deepa, Vedantasra, Vedartha Sangraha and Gita Bhashya.

Ramanujacharya in order to lend irrefutable authority to his commentaries on the "brahma-sutras", wished referring  ancient texts and treatises to  affirm the fundamental postulates and theses of Visishtadvaita; so wanted access to  ‘boddhayana vrutti’ – a rare treatise on Vyasa brahma sutra. This was lying somewhere obscure in a Kashmiri state and at an advanced age Ramanujar undertook a digvijayam by foot in pursuit of the vrutti and propagating his message. Kuresan  accompanied him. To gain access to the library, Ramanuja defeated the royal pundits in debate by exposition of his philosophy. Enraged, the pundits plotted and ordained that  vrutti not  be taken out of the library precincts and that the Acharya would not be allowed to take down any notes from the vrutti. The royal pundits were none too happy about the King's generosity and played malicious mischief to frustrate Ramanujacharya.  Thus there were disappointments at Kashmir and when back in Srirangam, Kuresan by sheer power of his prodigious memory was able to accurately recall vast passages from the vrutti word by word helping the great Acharya. The commentary of Acharya on Vyasa’s brahma sutra quickly progressed to its conclusion.

Ramanujar had the ambition of fulfilling his promises to his guru Yamunacharya one of which was to propagate devotional literature of Azhwars. At that point of time, Kuresan who was born as a king was earning his daily bread by unchavratti collecting nothing more than  barely sufficient to satisfy the basic needs. Thiruvarangar once directed Uthama Nambi to take his prasadam to Kuresan for he had not eaten anything on that day.   Kuresan considered it a sin to ask for something from the Lord for such was his devotion that he was sure that Lord would shower everything on his benefaction and baktha should not think of asking. Legend has it that the food sent by Arangar was the reason for the birth of two great sons, who were named Vyasa Bhattar and Parashara Bhattar who in posterity became the natural heir to all the spiritual kingdom of Ramanuja.

Some of you would have seen the film Dasavatharam which had many factual mistakes especially about history and religion. The character of “Nambi” – the kallai mattum kandal song  – was portrayal (though not appropriately) of Kuresan.                 (see post script)

Sri Ramanuja and Kuresan were septugenarians when the Chola kingdom was ruled by tyrant Kulothungam who was later to be known as kirimikanda chozhan. He was bent on routing out Vaishnavism;  Being informed that this would happen only by harming Acarya Ramanuja,  the King  issued summon to Acharya to appear in his court to punish him in some manner. Getting wind of the king’s evil designs, the disciples dissuaded Acharya from going to Gangaikondachozhapuram and Kuresan volunteered to go as His proxy. With great anguish  the Acharya left Srirangam to the land of Melkote and lived in exile for over 12 long years. In the court the king thrust a written declaration which read ‘nothing higher than Siva exists’ and commanded Kuresan and Perianambi to affix their signatures without any protest on declaration. Kuresan magnificently cited authoritative texts and sources from Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas proving that Sriman Narayana is Supreme and none was higher than HE. To a Srivaishnavaite He is the only one fit for worship.

காரேய் கருணை இராமானுஜருக்கும் ஸ்ரீ வைஷ்ணவத்துக்கும் ஆயிர ஆண்டுகள் முன்பு  நடந்த துயர நிகழ்ச்சி நினைக்க நினைக்க நமக்கு வருத்தம் தரும்.  வைணவம் திக்கெட்டும் பரவி, அரங்கன் புகழ் அனைவரும் பாடி,  அடியார்கள் பெருகி வாழ அரங்கநகர் வளர்ந்த அக்கால கட்டத்தில்,  சோழமண்டலத்தில் கங்கை கொண்ட சோழபுரத்தினை தலைநகராகக் கொண்டு வைணவத்வேஷம் கொண்டு "குலோத்துங்க சோழன்" என்னும் மன்னன் ‘சிவாத் பரதரம் நாஸ்தி’ (சிவனுக்கு மேலான தெய்வமில்லை) என்று அனைத்து மதத்தினைச் சார்ந்தவர்களையும் - ஏதேனும் ஒரு உபாயத்தினை பின்பற்றியோ அல்லது வலுக்கட்டாயப் படுத்தியோ, நிலைநாட்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தான்.

வைணவத்தின் தலைவராகயிருக்கும் இராமானுஜர் ஒப்புக் கொண்டாலே ஒழிய தாங்கள் நினைப்பதை சாதிக்கவியலாது என்று வெறிகொண்ட மன்னன் திருவரங்கத்திற்கு தன் ஆட்களை அனுப்பி இராமானுஜரை அழைத்துவர ஏற்பாடுகளைச் செய்தான். இராமானுஜர் சோழ மன்னனின் சபைக்குச் சென்றால் தீங்கு நிச்சயம் என்று உணர்ந்த கூரத்தாழ்வான் ஆழ்வான் மற்றும் சீடர்கள்,  வடதிருக்காவேரிக்கு நீராட சென்று இருந்த உடையவரது காஷாயத்தினை ஆழ்வான் தரித்து உடையவருக்கு வெள்ளை அங்கி அணிவித்து பத்திரமாக எழுந்துஅருள ஏற்பாடு பண்ணினார். மன்னனது சினத்தினால் பெரிய நம்பி உயிரிழக்க நேர்ந்தது.  நம் கூரேசனோ தம் கண்களை தாமே இழந்தார்.

The incensed King thrust a writing quill into their hands and commanded to sign the declaration threatening to pull out the eyes. Swami Kuresan said that the eyes that have seen this sinner have no further use and plucked them out. The cruel King ordered his courtiers to harm Mahapurnar (Periya Nambigal);  blood streamed out the eyeless cavities giving poignant agony. Mahapurnar breathed his last on the lap of Kuresan. After this unsavoury incident, blinded Kuresan returned to Srirangam.

After a few years he reached the town of Thirumalirumcholai (Kallalagar koil, Madurai)Swami gave us gift of   5 granthas called ‘panchasthavams’ viz.,

1. Sri Sthavam (10 Slokas) on Sri Ranga NachiyAr
2. Sri VaikunTa Sthavam (100 Slokas) on Paramapadanathan.
3. AthimAnusha Sthavam (61 Slokas). - Tharkam (logic); PramANam (authority) and Anubhvam (experience) how EmperumAn is the Sarveshwaran

4. Sri Sundara bAhu Sthavam (132 Slokas) on Azhagar of Tirumalirum Solai
5. Sri Varadaraja Sthavam (102 Slokas) on Hasthigiri Varadan.

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY : Heard from our Acaryas  that the sthavam on Azhagar though written at a stage when he was suffering with blindness, old age and being away from his Guru, he vowed to praise the Lord without any self-pity and everything is only positive in his writing.   Such was his will power and devotion to Almighty and Acharya.

History has it that the Chola king died of tumour in neck and hence came to be known as ‘kirimi kanda chozhan’. Sri Ramanujar at the ripe age of around 100 returned to Srirangam where a great gathering was awaiting. Kuresan also had returned and Ramanujar went to his house to meet Kuresan.

It is stated that Kuresan lamented that losing eyes was perhaps an atonement for some sin committed – perhaps some comments on urthvapundram (thiruman) as worn by  a srivaishnava. Such was his selflessness and attitude of not complaining. Kuresan despite the great physical handicap continued all kainkaryam and remained eternally faithful shadow of Acharyar. Ramanujar took his dearest disciple to Lord Varadharaja and commanded Kuresan to pray for restoration of eye sight. Kuresar did not want the eye sight for seeing anyone else than his Acharyan; when Ramanujar commanded, he prayed that moksham be granted to himself and also to Nalooraan, a person who had sort of betrayed the Acharyar before the Chozha, wishing that all srivaishnavaites be blessed. Such was his benevolence even for those who had done harm.

Kuresar prayed to Ranganatha to release him from his mortal body and be merged at the Lotus feet and received the supreme blessing. This he did to go in advance and welcome his Master. Kuresan passed away peacefully. Here is one from ‘sundarabahu sthavam’

The Lord of Thirumalirum Cholai graces us all from His Divyadesam VanAdri. There one has the blessings of His Sevai with every limb of His sacred body resplendent with His youthful Soundharyam. The samudhaya (collective) soundharyam (Beauty) of the Lord here is without parallel justifying His ThirunAmam as Azhagar (the Beautiful One). The auspicious guNams that have sought refuge in this beautiful body of the Lord of this divya dEsam are: Souseelyam (moving with the lowly ones and blessing them), Aasrita vAtsalyam (the deep affection for those, who seek His protection through SaraNAgathy), Mrudutvam (Soft heart for His devotees), SouhArtam (good will towards all), Saamya nilai (state of being attained by one and all),aarjavam (Straightforwardness, rectitude),Dhairyam (Courage and unperturbedness), sthairyam (steadfastness, resoluteness in the execution of Sankalpam), Suveeryam (power to engage all enemies all alone against a multitude of enemies), Souryam (independent prowess that enables Him to meet the enemies at his own base and destroy them), KrutitA (joyous attitude after placing those who sought His protection by His side in Sri Vaikuntam), Gaambheeryam (Majesty), CAturyam (conductance with exemplary cleverness and diplomacy with all) His unparalleled beauty blends with these auspicious and limitless guNams at His divine abode of ThirumAlirumchOlai.

Let us fall at the feet of Kuresan and pray for all good things from him and from our Jagadacharya Ramanujar.   Here are photos of Sri Kurathazhwan and Sri Parthasarathi during Sarrumurai purappadu of Kuresar at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam today.

~adiyen Srinivasadhasan.  5^th Feb 2018.

PS 1 : some may like the cinema ‘Dasavatharam’ -  but the dialogues and intense abhorrence for Hinduism and its values are apparent. Though there are many historical blunders and abject wrong portrayal – the character of Nambi does instill interest and some good depiction of the steadfastness and mental strength of a Srivaishnavaite. *அடியேன் இராமானுச தாசன்*  என்பது ஸ்ரீவைணவர்கள் தாஸ்ய திருநாமமாக தாங்கள் எம்பெருமானாரின் திருவடிகளை பின்பற்றுவபர்கள் என குறிக்கும் வார்த்தை.

PS 2 :  it is a practice to recite Divyaprabandham at home only from Sri Kurathazhwan Sarrumurai after anathyayanam.